Believing that chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate in shampoos adversely affect the scalp and hair, more and more people are choosing to wash their hair with plain water or baking soda. As the phenomenon seeps into India, women here too can find their own substitutes for shampoos — the magic potion for beautiful tresses may just be in your kitchen.

Chamomile tea
We've all heard how chamomile tea is good for our health. Turns out, it's just as good for hair too. Chamomile is known to prevent the scalp from drying and also softens hair, making it a good hair cleanser. Pour strained chamomile tea over wet hair, massage the scalp and rinse it off with water. And yes, it smells wonderful too!

Amla (Indian gooseberry)
Remember how your granny sneered at the fancy shampoos in the bathroom closet and trusted her homemade amla paste instead Well, she was right. Amla contains vitamin C that prevents scalp infections and even boasts of deep conditioning properties, which leave hair smoother. Wash your hair with amla twice a week and your hair won't miss shampoo.

Lemon
Given the pollution in our country, lemon is a good alternative for a hair cleanser. It has anti-bacterial properties that help in keeping the scalp clean and non-greasy. Dilute the lemon juice with water. Apply the lemon rinse on your scalp and massage well. Leave on for a few moments and rinse.

BDST: 1700 HRS, MAR 08, 2015